“We have worked very hard with several levels of government. We’ve had to deal with the federal government for funding, the state government for the land. The local health district has been a great supporter in being prepared to work with us to find a spot that gives us great access to the hospital and for the community to have access for a variety of services,” Dr McCartney said.

“It will be a multi-disciplinary clinic, meaning it will have general practitioners doing primary health care, practice nurses, physios, exercise physiologists and dieticians so we can look after the chronic care needs of our community.

“It will also be used to teach. We’ve got great partnerships with the University of Wollongong and Coast City Country which is the GP training scheme. So we will have students and registrars here who will be getting a taste of a country general practice style but in multi-disciplinary, high-quality care.”

She said the next generation of GPs needed to be enticed to the region.

“We need to show them how terrific it is here but also the professional opportunity and progress they can make within their careers,” she said.

Dr McCartney said the super clinic would have the potential to take the pressure off the Shoalhaven Hospital’s emergency department.

“We are working closely with the hospital to try to get the best arrangement,” she said.

“There will be after-hours care provided through the clinic and there are many GPs in the area who are happy to come and work after hours to provide that service.”